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How to Convince Parents:

flosseR said:
Why? There are plenty of people making good money playing games...
Your argument is based on a single person who is making money because she got a DSLR. Ok fair enough, please allow me to present a different perspective.

Perhaps the parents cannot afford the DSLR? Or more likely even, they think there are enough gadgets in the house? Or even a very plausible one (OP I don't mean to badger you on this, this is generically speaking): Assume this: Maybe the kid has had plenty of "creative" or "sporty" moments in the past and the parents are just tired of sinking money into hobbies that get forgotten after a couple of months?

You are right about the creative freedom, I give you that and Kids should not be hindered in that BUT that does not mean that parents should just buy whatever the kid wants. If he or she wants to be creative, let him or her ALSO make an effort.
We do not know the background of the OP or your friends daughter, so calling people nasty simply because they might have a different perspective is a bit far out, don't you agree?
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Not really, the people here (I wont name names to avoid warnings) do not have any idea what the OP's background is so in my opinion they should give the OP the benefit of the doubt and assume that he is wanting to study photography. (And a DSLR is by far the cheapest most efficient way of doing it).

Don't get me wrong, I completely understand your point and would agree with you if the OP did have the type of background you are describing.

There are plenty of potential variables here so no one will end up being right, but if it were my kid, and they showed a genuine interest in learning photography I would try my best to get them a DLSR.

I can sympathize with the OP; I always wonder where I'd be computer knowledge wise if my parents got me a computer back in junior high. They always assumed I wanted it for games and told me no, but in reality I wanted it to program games and applications. I could have had a big advantage when I entered college when I was 18, but instead I didn't even get to compile my first program until I was 17, the previous 4 years I read out of books and wrote my programs on paper.
 
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:\ I'll disagree there. If you have a really good P&S you might be able to take decent night pictures. I'm thinking of a few Fuji P&S models that gave you too much control and had horrible automatic settings. Hehe.

The pictures you can get from a DSLR are amazing. Call me on it! Go ahead! I must be a terrible photographer but I've done the best I can with my little SD600 and even the best possible day shot would look worlds better on a cheap DSLR.

I can't blame the dude! Maybe he should trade his iPad 2 for one.
 
mofunk said:
Used is another option.
Buy a D80 or D90 and 50mm lens
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As a Nikon fan, I'd go with the D90 or 80. You can get good deals on them now.
But as far as lenses go, stay away from the 50mm.

You'll be starting in photography, so you should have a zoom lens to show you which pictures you like best.
The 50mm is by far the best Nikon lens you can buy and it is also the cheapest, but on a D90 will have the look of a 75mm, which will be good for portraits and not much more.
Get the kit lens first (18-55, 18-105 or even the 200) and a couple of years down the line you'll know which and if you need a prime lens.

Regarding DSLR or point and shoot. The level of control that the DSLR gives is unrivaled compared to point and shoots... or an iPhone.

Have a go at older cameras and start from there. One of the most famous photographers in my home country became famous shooting an old film Minolta he found on the street. So it's not the age of the equipment that matters either. ;)
 
mofunk said:
Used is another option.

Buy a D80 or D90 and 50mm lens

http://www.adorama.com/US 464330.html

Or Canon 20D or 40D

I agree with your parents. The P&S cameras are close to the entry level cameras. Until you master the P&S then you can move on.

This is how I convince myself. If it's something you will spend a lot of time using then buy it. Make sure you research the product. Find books that will help you navigate better.


http://www.amazon.com/Understanding...9390/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322443838&sr=8-1
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i will never buy used technology. learned a lessen
 
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In my family we have a tradition of buying few but expensive gifts, so I told my dad that I had two wishes for my birthday last month, a MC license or a Canon 60d. Of course wanting to prevent me from getting into some serious accident he got me the 60d as my only present, also got a Gant watch from my girlfriend.
 
Sell you point an shoot on craigslist and tell your dad, I don't have a camera now...

Also check an used camera you might get a good deal!

Good luck...

:D
 
gangzoom said:
You do not need a DSLR camera to take good photos...

http://www.flickr.com/groups/takenwithiphone/

When I'm have kids remind me not to spoil them to the point there they go on to the internet to think of ways to emotionally blackmail me into buying them things them don't need!!
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To take good photos no, he wouldn't need an SLR but if the OP wants to study photography he will need an SLR (and a digital one is the cheapest way to go, film SLRs get expensive fast with film processing costs, especially for a learner).

P and S cameras don't have the flexibility and you cant usually do things like shallow depth of field shots with them due to their small aperture size. They also don't have things like a bulb mode which is really helpful when learning long exposure techniques.
 
mrcowdude20 said:
White MacBook Late 10', 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HD; iPod Touch 2nd gen. 16 GB; iPod Touch 3rd gen. 8GB; iPhone 3G 8GB; iPhone 3GS 16GB; iPad 2 16GB 3G
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If you can afford all of that stuff on your own then have a normal christmas and buy it yourself, doesn't look like it should be a problem for you.
 
Incidentally I would really love to get a new BMW M5. I've spent ages reading up about how amazing it is, and I really need something better than my current car!! I haven't had time to visit my local BMW dealer, but if I tell them how a M5 will let me do my daily commute 10% quicker and how the new 8 speed auto box is so much better than the 6 speed box in my current car do you think they will give me one for free?
 
mrcowdude20 said:
i will never buy used technology. learned a lessen
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IMO buying used is the way to go when buying camera gear.

I've saved thousands on camera bodies and lenses by going that route, of course you always need to do your research first, but the savings are definitely worth it in my view.
 
mulo said:
In my family we have a tradition of buying few but expensive gifts, so I told my dad that I had two wishes for my birthday last month, a MC license or a Canon 60d. Of course wanting to prevent me from getting into some serious accident he got me the 60d as my only present, also got a Gant watch from my girlfriend.
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How come the OP gets called spoiled for having the lowest end Apple laptop and buying their electronics themselves, and this dude hasn't been called on for getting an $800 camera for a birthday gift and a $200-ish watch? XD

Pot meet kettle. or something.
 
mrcowdude20 said:
i will never buy used technology. learned a lessen
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There is no trouble with buying used in camera gear as long as you carefully inspect and test what you are buying.

My old 300mm F/4.0 prime lens is used - and it works perfectly (got it from B&H in New York). Someone else had it before me for a long time, and I've had it for years without fault.

Typically, used items that are sold with original boxes, manuals all in good condition are one pointer to a careful original owner - but you'll still have to test the purchase carefully.
 
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TheReef said:
IMO buying used is the way to go when buying camera gear.

I've saved thousands on camera bodies and lenses by going that route, of course you always need to do your research first, but the savings are definitely worth it in my view.
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Agree. Something to consider-go to a local camera shop that may have used cameras for sale, or go on eBay (just bought a sweet 100mm Macro that was part of an estate sale for a little more than what a new one would cost). I am always fearful of craigslist-never really used it but heard enough horror stories. Finally, there's refurbished models. Just some things to consider.
 
If you can't afford to pay 50% toward the camera, perhaps you could make another compromise with your parents. Are there any places around you that offer photography lessons. Perhaps you could make a deal with them to pre-pay for the photography lessons to show commitment, and how serious you are, in exchange for them purchasing the camera?

If not, then perhaps they would be willing to give you a gift card worth 50% or more of the value to a local camera shop, and you could work on paying the balance. That was how I got my first SLR. My parents gave me a gift of half the money and I found a way to pay the rest. That was a lot of year ago before gift cards LOL.
 
I don't see why some people here just assume that the OP is a) spoiled or b) ignorant.

gangzoom said:
You do not need a DSLR camera to take good photos...
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In some circumstances you definitely need a DSLR for usable photos. Having said that, I have always enjoyed using my phones to take photos.

mrcowdude20 said:
i will never buy used technology.
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Well... I don't know, I've usually had good experiences. I bought a D1X ages ago and the guy included five batteries with it... which were all bad. So I thought, well, who cares, I'll buy new 3rd party ones... which didn't last long. I should have researched first!

SDColorado said:
Are there any places around you that offer photography lessons. Perhaps you could make a deal with them to pre-pay for the photography lessons to show commitment
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I recommend against that. Great way to waste money IMO. Lessons? Bah, flimshaw! Use that money for either better equipment or for travelling (so you can actually take photos instead of 'studying' how to take photos). Photography isn't aeronautical engineering. You have the freedom to explore and discover by yourself.

Learn at your own pace. Compare your work to others. Ask for advice. Keep improving. Take lots of photos and keep looking at the work of others.
 
Low light, wide angle lenses, and way more control over focus. iphone? naaah. Even a P&S with a GIANT sensor (they exist), aren't going to have the same quality.. especially in a dark scene.

That doesn't mean it's not possible to take awesome, inspirational pictures with a cell phone camera (or a cheap P&S.. or one of those $5 keychain dealies), but that you can do so much more and get so much more out of it.

I'll agree that a $500-800-whatever pill is VERY hard to swallow, hell I don't have a DSLR and don't really see myself buying one until I graduate from uni and get a job. Will I then? Sure it'll be on my list ;)
 
Pikemann Urge said:
I recommend against that. Great way to waste money IMO. Lessons? Bah, flimshaw! Use that money for either better equipment or for travelling (so you can actually take photos instead of 'studying' how to take photos). Photography isn't aeronautical engineering. You have the freedom to explore and discover by yourself.
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The thing is, it takes a lot less time if someone tells you the basic about photography and it sure makes it far better learning and discovering from then on.
How many people take pictures every day and have no clue what the zoom (focal length) actually does to the picture?
The objective of any photography course is not to learn how to take great pictures (that is subjective and not something you can teach), it's to give you a technical understanding of how a camera works and what possibilities that gives you.

Granted, he can probably pick up the essentials from a book or advice from a friend if he knows photography. But if the chance presents itself for a basic photography course at a cheap rate, that would be a good investment.

Now travelling... that is a good investment. But beware, do so with other photographers, people that will tolerate you being away for most of the day or alone. I haven't had a good photography trip in ages due to my best half not having patience while I take that picture as I like it.
 
JoeG4 said:
How come the OP gets called spoiled for having the lowest end Apple laptop and buying their electronics themselves, and this dude hasn't been called on for getting an $800 camera for a birthday gift and a $200-ish watch? XD

Pot meet kettle. or something.
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thanks. btw, i don't have a job.

chrono1081 said:
OP you can look at places like BH Photo for used equipment that is reliable. Its a great way to save on lenses.
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Yes, I am looking into that.
 
If I were you...

Propose having your parents help you buy a USED Rebel XT from craigslist.

You could get a kit with the cam, a kit lens and a few batteries and cards for <$300 I bet.

No need to muck around with UV filter thingies.

Also, not to troll, but I think I read you have an ipad 2 and a macbook. There is not one single thing a ipad2 can do that your whitebook can't do 10 times better. If all else fails, sell the ipad and buy the camera. Messing around on the newest "in" gadget wont teach you a darn thing. Shooting pictures can.

:)
 
How old are you?

Are there any community colleges in the area that offer classes on Photography?

If so maybe you can make a deal with them ........

" Mom, Dad, if I get this for my Christmas Gift I will take the photography course offered by _____________________ school/college. "

It's just a thought. The camera is a pricey investment they would be making in you .... you have to convince they you are worth that investment.
 
I buy all my gear used. All new gear only has a 1 year warranty anyways. My 1Ds is from 2002 and my lens is from the 1980s, and still does pretty well..

Weeping.jpg
 
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